A Drink with the Enemy

Wednesday was looking very much like the worst day ever for the Cullen boys.

After hardly getting any sleep, they ended up being late for school that morning. Emmett was scolded by his math teacher because he forgot his homework, Edward was laughed at and teased after tripping over his own shoelaces in gym, and a heated argument with his lab partner earned Jasper a detention when he snapped at his science teacher who tried to intervene. The eldest brother being the only one with a car, Edward and Emmett were then forced to wait around after school let out.

By time they started back home, the rain was falling steadily. They all needed a hunt, but no-one liked the idea of getting soaked again. It was as if God himself were conspiring against them. Carlisle hated them, everyone at school hated them, and even the weather hated them. Could such a miserable day get any worse?

The answer to that came when they found Esme's car parked in their driveway.

"Hello, boys. You're a bit late. Nothing bad happened at school, I hope," the pretty brunette smiled in their kitchen.

Three pairs of dark eyes stared at her warily. "It was...nothing," Edward spoke slow.

"That's good. I was just making some hot chocolate. You three look like you could use a pick-me-up."

Emmett opened his mouth, realized he didn't know what to say, and closed it. Jasper and Edward were equally as bemused. If she was here to yell at them for their misbehavior, she was going about it in the weirdest way.

"Go on, sit down. I'm almost finished here," she told them.

They hesitated, fidgeting. Edward and Emmett traded questioning glances. Esme's eyes crinkled with amusement.

"Really, boys, I'm not going to poison you. Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. The milk will be ready in a moment."

Edward wrinkled his nose, Emmett bunched up his lips, and Jasper narrowed his eyes. However, one by one, they moved to the dining room table and sat down. A mug containing cocoa powder was already waiting for each boy.

"Alright, here we go," said Esme as she brought over the steaming pot of milk. She filled each mug carefully, ending with the one they assumed was for herself.

"It's a pity all the tasty things we vampires have to miss out on, but at least we still have chocolate."

The pot now empty, she returned to the kitchen to place it in the sink, then came back to the table and settled in her spot. "You'll want to stir it," she informed the boys when they remained motionless.

They looked at their spoons as if it was the first time they had seen such silverware. Slowly, each teen picked up his utensil and swirled it inside the hot drink. Once they finished, they all put their hands in their laps and fixed their gazes on the whiffs of steam rising from their mugs. Esme laced her fingers underneath her chin.

"So, while we wait for these to cool a bit, I would like to talk about the...visit you paid my house yesterday."

A rush of tension shot through the room, yet the petite woman didn't even flinch.

"I don't mind unexpected guests, really. In fact, I'm rather fond of surprises. But I would have liked to be there to invite you inside. I'm pretty sure my chairs are a lot more comfortable than the bushes in the back."

A snort escaped Emmett. "I'll say," he muttered. "Some of them had thorns."

Edward made a warning sound in his throat and the brawny vampire shut his mouth tight. The two tentatively chanced a look at Esme. Her eyes had brightened.

"Oh, those thorns," she mused humorously. "A couple of weeks ago my Rosalie was feeling in a rare playful mood and we decided to try at a little wrestling. Purely by accident, I pushed her into those bushes. I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't stop laughing at the scream that came out of that girl's mouth."

She chuckled, a pleasant sound that was light and warm. It pulled the corner of Emmett's lips up. "That's terrible."

"I know. I had to buy her a new pair of diamond earrings to earn her forgiveness. Nothing ever comes cheap with Rosalie."

The memory that played in Esme's mind tugged a little smile out of Edward. Jasper felt his own shoulders relax just a tad. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room was much lighter.

"Now," Esme picked up her mug and blew over it. "I really must know what about me had you all so curious that you would break into my house. Flattered as I am, I'm afraid you might be disappointed at what you learn. I'm a bit lacking in the dark secrets department."